NEW YORK, February 28. /TASS/. The situation near Artyomovsk, known in Ukraine as Bakhmut, is much worse for Ukrainian forces than Kiev officially admits, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing Ukrainian troops fighting for the town.

"The situation in Bakhmut is very difficult now. It is much worse than officially reported," a soldier who wished to remain anonymous told CNN on Tuesday. "We should add another 100% difficulty to the official reports. In all directions. Especially in the northern direction."

Another soldier said in a video that "the situation around the defense of Bakhmut is quite difficult". A third soldier described the fighting as "hellish."

Artyomovsk is located in the Kiev-controlled part of the DPR and is an important transportation hub for supplying Ukrainian troops in Donbass. Fierce fighting has been raging for the town. Denis Pushilin, the interim head of the Donetsk People’s Republic said on February 16 that Russian forces had seized control of all key heights near Artyomovsk.